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Target for 40 university technical colleges | |
(40 minutes later) | |
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | |
Up to 40 new university technical colleges (UTCs) could open in England, according to Lord Baker, the chair of the trust developing a new type of vocational education for teenagers. | Up to 40 new university technical colleges (UTCs) could open in England, according to Lord Baker, the chair of the trust developing a new type of vocational education for teenagers. |
The colleges will develop high-level technical skills for 14 to 19 year olds, developed in conjunction with employers and universities. | The colleges will develop high-level technical skills for 14 to 19 year olds, developed in conjunction with employers and universities. |
Lessons will run from 8.30am to 5.30pm with five eight-week terms a year. | Lessons will run from 8.30am to 5.30pm with five eight-week terms a year. |
Colleges will tackle "snobbery" against vocational training, said Lord Baker. | Colleges will tackle "snobbery" against vocational training, said Lord Baker. |
This would be more than three times the number of technical colleges that had been proposed. | |
"This is an idea whose time has come," said the former education secretary, who now chairs the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and Edge Foundation. | "This is an idea whose time has come," said the former education secretary, who now chairs the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and Edge Foundation. |
'Snobbery' | 'Snobbery' |
Up until now there have been plans to create a network of 12 university technical colleges (UTCs). | Up until now there have been plans to create a network of 12 university technical colleges (UTCs). |
But Lord Baker predicted such a strong demand for UTCs that there will be 15 to 20 colleges by 2012 with the numbers eventually likely to rise to 40. | But Lord Baker predicted such a strong demand for UTCs that there will be 15 to 20 colleges by 2012 with the numbers eventually likely to rise to 40. |
The colleges are seen as the latest attempt to develop a high-status route for developing technical and craft skills. | The colleges are seen as the latest attempt to develop a high-status route for developing technical and craft skills. |
Lord Baker accused the last Labour government of "bottling" its attempt to improve vocational education, allowing diploma qualifications to "fall by the wayside". | Lord Baker accused the last Labour government of "bottling" its attempt to improve vocational education, allowing diploma qualifications to "fall by the wayside". |
But he said the modern economy depended on advanced technical skills, and the education system must be able to provide an effective training route. | But he said the modern economy depended on advanced technical skills, and the education system must be able to provide an effective training route. |
"We're desperately short of technicians. If we want to have nuclear power station, fast broadband across the country and high-speed trains, we haven't got the technicians to do it. We've got to train the technicians." | |
Lord Baker said that technical schools in the past "were killed by snobbery". | Lord Baker said that technical schools in the past "were killed by snobbery". |
He said they were associated with "dirty jobs and greasy rags - and everyone wanted to go to a grammar school. It was a huge mistake". | |
The UTCs will seek to bridge the gap between vocational and academic education, with a curriculum including both technical work-based training and core academic lessons in English and maths. | The UTCs will seek to bridge the gap between vocational and academic education, with a curriculum including both technical work-based training and core academic lessons in English and maths. |
'Employability' | 'Employability' |
There will also be vocational specialisms such as engineering, construction, business or medical care. | There will also be vocational specialisms such as engineering, construction, business or medical care. |
The colleges will aim to teach "employability" skills, such as helping youngsters to have more confidence in public speaking. | The colleges will aim to teach "employability" skills, such as helping youngsters to have more confidence in public speaking. |
Entry would be at the age of 14, which Lord Baker argues should be the transfer age, rather than 11. | Entry would be at the age of 14, which Lord Baker argues should be the transfer age, rather than 11. |
He said switching to a vocational college with a clear work-related purpose would be a way of re-engaging disaffected teenagers. | |
Colleges would be able to select up to 10% of pupils according to aptitude, and will draw pupils from a wide catchment area. | Colleges would be able to select up to 10% of pupils according to aptitude, and will draw pupils from a wide catchment area. |
They will be set up as free-standing academies and - like the government's free schools idea - are likely to be set up in refurbished premises, rather than being newly built. | They will be set up as free-standing academies and - like the government's free schools idea - are likely to be set up in refurbished premises, rather than being newly built. |
Lord Baker said the UTCs would not be "pillared halls" - and he gave as an example plans to convert a light manufacturing building in Norwich. | |
The colleges will receive per pupil funding from government. | |
'Two tier system' | 'Two tier system' |
It's expected they they will gain from the the government's pupil premium scheme, and receive extra money for pupils from poorer families. | |
Critics say the UTC project will re-create the divisions of the 11-plus, and will narrow pupils' horizons by channelling youngsters away from academic subjects. | Critics say the UTC project will re-create the divisions of the 11-plus, and will narrow pupils' horizons by channelling youngsters away from academic subjects. |
And teachers' unions have warned that the project will create a "two-tier" secondary school system, with youngsters making far-reaching decisions about their careers at too early an age. | |
However Lord Baker has rejected this criticism, saying colleges must be seen as a positive choice. He said the pupil intake will be "self selecting", with teenagers wanting to switch from mainstream secondary schools. | However Lord Baker has rejected this criticism, saying colleges must be seen as a positive choice. He said the pupil intake will be "self selecting", with teenagers wanting to switch from mainstream secondary schools. |
He also emphasised that the UTC brand should maintain its appeal for pupils and their parents. | He also emphasised that the UTC brand should maintain its appeal for pupils and their parents. |
The involvement of universities, further education colleges and employers will help to maintain standards and relevance to the jobs market, he said. | The involvement of universities, further education colleges and employers will help to maintain standards and relevance to the jobs market, he said. |
"We have to keep up the quality - it can't be cheap and cheerful... We mustn't water down the beer." |